Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1887-05-05
THE OLD JEsSUP PLANTATION,

The sharp houNd ot nurse hooi'
ringing against the level, sunbaked road
reused Mandy Jessup from state OF
hopeful abstraction, and leaning from
her low seat in the door she shaded her
eyes with her hands and reeped anxiously
out up the winding path.
A young man on a stout cane acky
creole pony parted the bushes and alight-
ed without word
swell. RlahY" Intercepted Mrs Jessup
Then as he shook his head delectediy,
'Sho'ly they amt goin'-
"Tain't any use wastin' yo' breath ques-
t;onin,' man, Amariah interrupted,
sinking into the chair his mother Just
vacated, "thsy air goin' clean against
usw
"Wel" calculated Mrs. Jessup with
indignation, as she hung Riah's hat on a
nail in the whitewashed wall, well! well
an you air ole Zach Jessups granchile
by his second wife! Why, Their amt no
jestis in Mississippi Of the Flyers can't
see with one eye that it's all yourn"
II was kinder hopeful at fust, but soon
/ saw Their wasn't any chance for me;
Judge Gary is all for Cuunel Jessup's
claim, an I'm no whar"
"Riah, fyou he'd a little change ter
slip into the jury's han you'd git thor,
too insinusted Mrs. Jessup. "Lawsy'
how you skeered meW she ssrieked as
Amariaha's clenched fist came down on
the table with crash.
Don't say no mo-! I've got no money
en- if had t'would never go dishonesty
this little shsnty IL mean enough look
ing sadly around at the dirty walls and
wretched furniture, "but its come by hon
eslyW
you're right, 'Riah; en- don fret bout
Iiizzy theirs ez good fish in the river ez
ever was caught: if she's too fine fur yo'
place why theirs the Spinner gals is handy
an'-wel, ! never, if he amt gone off in
the heat o the day. as Amariah impat-
ienty ierked his gun from the rack and
pulling his slouch hat down over his eyes,
hurried away from his miserable home,
which resembled a chicken coop set up
on pegs to avoid tho high water.
He pushed through the bending cane
brake, cracking the fallen stalks under
his feet roughly tearing aside the poi
sonous red and yellow vines that chung
to him, needless of the gray moss that
brushed his cheek as he passed under the
water oaks, and the wild ducks that
frightened by his footsteps flew mp from
the swamp with hoarse cries.
The ripple and splash of water tapping
against the bank reused him from his
obstruction as n bend in the Willows
brought him close to the golden Missis
sippi rushing down TO its death IN the
great seas.
Across this arm Of the river lay the
Jessup plantation, stretching far out in
to the wat er like the finger OF great
hand aad half hid by the rank growth Of
moss-covered trees, no could catch {
glimpse of the once stately home of tn,
Jessues, now grim and deserted, with iti
acres of untitled land lying fallow thu
year round.
Pausing moment to look at the sPo
where his brightest dreams had been cen
tered and where now lay the grass gray,
of his dead hopes, the young man turned
resolutely away. Following the marrow
path on top OF the high levee for SON,
distance, he then took road to his righ
which wound its way through a dens,
forest, and was soon lost in the gathering
gloom.
Colonel Jessup, of the Hill Jessups-s
called because his neat white cottage wa,
built on green mound-sat in his gal
lery, from which q fine view could be Oh
tanned of the Jessup plantation, which he
was now regarding with the indulgent eye
of ownership, and as the Colonel called
his pretty daughter, Lissy, and asked for
another glass of miat julep, any one could
see at a glance that he was in an extra
ordinarily tine humor,
II am certainly glad" Judge Gary was
saving, that we have succeeded in wrest
ing that fine old place from the grasp Of
those shifuess, down stream Jessups. II
was really duty we owed society IN gen
eral to decide against them"
"Damme sab yo' hand on THAR ener-
geticany from the Colonel. AN you
may be sho' sab if see him loatin round
I.issy any mo- I'll kick him of so!' and
the irascible Colonel administered a sharp
rap ON the Judges august shin.
"Softly, softly, Culonel' cried that
gentleman, rubbing his ruiscd member.
don't do anything TO arouse the young
ladys anger II am afraid / have already
offended her in some way"
"naug 1t, no sab! she is jes' like all
girls deush skittish when mans
round! She sholy ought TO respect n
gentleman that has saved a piece OF pro
perty like that for her ole dad, an dam
me if think she cares a picayuuel Any
how she's yours by tomorrow eyenin' as
soon as that place is put pintedly in my
possession aud Colonel Jessup waving
tiresome discussion leaned back with
closed eyes enjoying his new found prop.
erty.
The Judge also INDUCED in pleasant
meditations. occasionally taking sip
from the glass mt his side as he mused
upon Lissy's tempting red lips and
eyes.
"Evenin' Cunnel! eyeuiu Judge!"
Both men started from their reyerios
and looking saw Amariah standing before
them.
The Colonies face was purple with
anger and aston shment, while sardonie